Festival (Hungary) - AllCarIndex

The Festival was a microcar developed in Hungary by Kalman Szabadi between 1956 and 1960. This project emerged in the aftermath of the 1956 Hungarian Revolution, which effectively ended the country's earlier microcar initiatives, including Alba Regia, Balaton, and Uttoro. Despite the challenging circumstances, Szabadi pursued the construction of his vehicle, which was powered by an Isetta 300 engine.

Due to a lack of available materials, Szabadi created a unique composite for the car's body by mixing pig fat and chicken feathers with nitro shellac, which was then painted over. This unconventional material was malleable but emitted a strong odor reminiscent of a farm. The design featured a combination of gull-wing and conventional doors, accommodating Szabadi's tall stature. The suspension system utilized Pannonia telescopic shock absorbers, known for their subpar quality, with each wheel supported by a pair of these components.

The Festival measured 3.1 meters in length and weighed 380 kilograms, giving it a deceptively large appearance. Although the editor of Hungary's only automotive magazine, Auto-Motor, recognized the potential of the Festival and advocated for its production in small series, the regulations imposed by COMECON, which prohibited passenger car manufacturing in Hungary, ultimately rendered the Festival a unique, one-off creation.